Abstract:In this article, we try to explore the psychological problems of Magda, the main female character in J.M. Coetzee's In the Heart of the Country, and the causes of the disorders. Using the theories of Oedipus Complex in females, we try to prove that Magda suffers from neurosis, which later develops into psychosis. The serious mental problems in the young lady result from her unsuccesful resolution of her sexual desire towards her own father. Magda's female Oedipus Complex is caused by the absence of the mother figure, the sexual attachment to the father, and the unrevoked hatred toward the mother competitor.

As with many post-colonial countries, Indonesia has suffered from a long conflict between the military and civil society since its independence in 1945. This struggle is reflected in Ahmad Tohari"s novel entitled The dancer (2012), which has been largely credited as being critical towards the military regime. Using the theories of depoliticisation, I argue that the novel is 1) largely supportive of the military regime due to the oppressive situation as well as the author"s own political line, and 2) influenced by other powers besides the government. The fact that the novel dares to touch the once suppressed subjects of the Indonesian Communist Party (the arch enemy of the regime) and the anti-communist persecution shows a drive for politicisation. Nevertheless, further analysis shows that, by portraying it as highly political, The dancer actually depoliticises the party in that it only reinforces what has been said of the party and removes any alternative points of view. It also represses and depoliticises the military"s persecution and killing of the suspected communists through the pretexts of self-defence, ignorance, and guilt.

Abstract:In this article, we try to explore the psychological problems of Magda, the main female character in J.M. Coetzee's In the Heart of the Country, and the causes of the disorders. Using the theories of Oedipus Complex in females, we try to prove that Magda suffers from neurosis, which later develops into psychosis. The serious mental problems in the young lady result from her unsuccesful resolution of her sexual desire towards her own father. Magda's female Oedipus Complex is caused by the absence of the mother figure, the sexual attachment to the father, and the unrevoked hatred toward the mother competitor.

This article discusses how the plot of Babel reflects the principles of the quantum-physic theory of complex system such as complexity, indeterminacy and non-linearity. In terms of complexity, the movie exposes more than two distinct subplots with their subcomponents. Yet, every subplot is only meaningful when it is mentally put in relation to the others. Due to its complexity, it is highly difficult for the audience and the characters of Babel to determine the meaning or the significance of a component in the story. Finally, Babel also displays the phenomena of non-linearity and chaos. Babel's non-linearity expresses both positive and negative feedback loops, with the first being dominant. This is largely responsible for the chaotic development of the plot.

Humanity has their own meanings of life. Those meanings are meant to guide them towards fulfillment. People have different triggers that propel them to find their meanings of life, for example death anxiety. This novel project follows Trista, the bearer of a Curse which has the power to kill her if she uses it. As a result, she fears death and struggles to find her meaning of life, because she feels sorrow caused by her death anxiety. To better explore the issue, I apply Paul Wong’s Meaning Management Theory about meaning of life and death anxiety in the story. I find that death anxiety makes someone like Trista experience a life-changing experience to motivate her to find meaning, and the death anxiety subsides when a person finds meaning, accepts, and no longer fears death. A person who finds meaning will live life to the fullest based on their meanings. Keywords: Meaning of life, death anxiety, death acceptance